A/N: Sorry this is late. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 6
The Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab, Friday at 7:00 am
Booth's phone rang awakening both partners who had shared the couch the night before. The FBI agent was up looking around for his pants in which his phone had been in before being carelessly discarded on the floor. He was successful and quickly answered it.
"Booth,"
"It's Charlie. We have a bit of a situation out here in Greenbush," the younger agent said.
"What kind of situation?" Booth asked as he watched Brennan get off the sofa with his button down shirt on. She went to the drawer where she kept a spare outfit for those nights she never went home and then she headed toward the Emergency shower. Her coworkers would be in soon and they couldn't get caught like this.
"The one where there was a letter left at the front desk with the words 'FBI Special Agent' on it," Charlie told him.
"What did the letter say?" Booth was hoping this game of guess and tell would end soon.
"Well it had coordinates and we followed those coordinates to just outside of the city Middle River in Marshall County. We found a body," Charlie finally spit it out.
"Shit," the older FBI agent muttered.
"And get this, it had an extra shin bone," the less-experienced agent said.
"It's him. Who is examining the body?" Booth wanted to know.
"The Marshall County Coroner. It was still mostly a body. The only bone we found was the shin bone. What's weird is the victim is also missing his fingers, teeth, and eyes," Charlie explained.
"I want everything shipped to the Jeffersonian ASAP. Once you've wrapped things up out there call me back. I'll talk to Cullen," the ex-Army Ranger told him.
"You got it," Charlie said before hanging up. Shaking his head, Booth collected his clothes and went to find Brennan.
About an hour later, the team stood in Angela's office waiting for trajectory reports when Booth walked in. He had an extra outfit in his SUV so as far as he knew no one suspected a thing.
"So what have we got?" He asked.
"Damn, how'd you get here so fast?" Hodgins looked at him.
"I was awoken by a phone call from Charlie early this morning. More on that after Angela helps us," Booth gave him a look.
"Ok, I had the Angelator take a look at the scenario and there are four possibilities as far as trajectory. Once distance is factored in it doesn't really narrow things down. How ever I can tell you that the shooter was no more than twenty feet away from the victim at the time of the shooting," Angela explained.
"So maybe it was a duel. I don't know about you but I wouldn't stand still and let someone shoot at me," Booth said.
"Point but what if the shot was through the back. Sam Butter would never have seen it coming," Hodgins suggested.
"True but what would the two be doing out there, if not to duel, unless the possibility of more players is introduced," Simon told the group.
"Have someone hold Sam still before shooting him? It's possible and more difficult to prove," Cam shook her head.
"Well the belt buckle has five useable prints on it. I'm running them through the system to see if we get lucky. The soil on it is indigenous to Maryland so no help there," the entomologist spoke up.
"Some of those prints could be from the soldier who originally wore it. You'll never get those identified," Brennan said.
"Either way, our shooter was either standing directly in front or behind Sam Butter and they shot him. We're looking for someone with military skills or experienced hunter. Also someone around the same height and that could drag or lift one-hundred and eighty-five pounds," Angela finished her presentation. Booth had been silent for a few minutes, an intense look on his face.
"Greg Butter served in Vietnam and he used to stand at six foot one," he said, making everyone turn to him.
"Sam was six foot tall," Brennan told them.
"But why would he kill his son and then try to cover it up? At his age when his son went missing, could Greg have lifted his son?" Cam wondered.
"No idea on both counts although Sam would turn his back to his father, not thinking his father would shoot him. Unfortunately, we certainly aren't getting a clear answer out of the elder Mr. Butter. Alzheimer's has made sure to that. However whoever visits Greg Butter on Saturday nights made the nursing home staff believe that he is his brother. I called Autumn Acres. A sting is going to be setup for tomorrow night. Local PD is going to grab our suspect on a charge of fraud and we'll take it from there," Booth explained.
"So once we have that guy in custody we'll be able to tell if he is a viable suspect," Angela said.
"Yes, hopefully with the info you gave and his fingerprints we'll be able to tie him to something other than fraud," Booth nodded.
"Well what did Charlie have to say?" Hodgins wanted to know.
"It seems Jay Moore is back to toying with us. Charlie received a note at his hotel and with the locals retrieved a body at given coordinates. I'm having the body shipped to the Jeffersonian. There was an extra shin bone buried with the identified remains," the FBI agent sighed.
"Son of a bitch," Cam cursed.
"My sentiments exactly," Booth shook his head.
"That's what he meant by 'the surprise inside'," Brennan said.
"It's Anna Smits shin bone. He wants to show us that he got away," Simon told them.
"We cannot start making assumptions now. Process the evidence. The evidence will speak for itself," Brennan reminded him.
"Anyway, the body was missing its eyes which would seem to suggest that it is the same victim whose eyes Bones received in the mail," her partner explained.
"Well at least we aren't looking for another victim. How long until the body gets here?" Cam asked.
"I'm waiting on a call from Charlie. He's wrapping things up out in Greenbush," Booth said.
"Ok. Until we get that call, Hodgins keep working on those fingerprints. Simon, I want the sternum and vertebrae reexamined. See if you can't narrow down the direction of the shot that killed Sam Butter. Angela, prepare to do a sketch when the body gets here. The eyes have proven the victim isn't in the system. Booth, Dr. Brennan, a word," Cam took charge and the three headed toward Brennan's office.
"How are these two cases being treated? Is the Jeffersonian responsible for both?" She asked.
"As of right now, yes. I have to speak with Cullen once I hear from Charlie," Booth explained.
"I believe the team can handle it but there is a personal aspect here and I want to make perfectly clear, we are all professionals here," the Head of Forensics said.
"Of course. I'm sure Cullen will agree," Booth understood.
"Good," Cam nodded.
To Be Continued…